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With the JUDEANS in the PALESTINE CAMPAIGN
Lieutenant-Colonel John Henry Patterson, (1867 – 1947), known by some as "the godfather of the Israeli Army" was a British soldier, hunter, author and Christian Zionist, best known for his book The Man-Eaters of Tsavo (1907), which details his experiences while building a railway bridge over the Tsavo river in Kenya in 1898–99. The book has inspired three Hollywood films - Bwana Devil (1952), Killers of Kilimanjaro (1959) and The Ghost and the Darkness (1996) in which he was portrayed by Val Kilmer.
Although largely forgotten by history, in the First World War, Patterson was the commander of the Jewish Legion, "the first Jewish fighting force in nearly two millennia. It was in this role that he was called the godfather of the Israeli army."
"WITH THE JUDEANS IN THE PALESTINE CAMPAIGN", by Lieutenant-Colonel J. H. Patterson (MacMillan), is the story of the Jewish Battalion of the British army, written by its commander. The Battalion, formed in August, 1917, as the result of a decision of the British cabinet, saw active service in the Holy Land, beset continually by the unfriendliness of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force.
Colonel Patterson indicates throughout his book an understanding of, and sympathy with, his Jewish soldiers. An interesting sentence from the introduction: ". . .It would not surprise me if the historian of the future seized upon this dramatic appearance of the Jewish warrior, fighting for the redemption of Israel under the banner of England, as one of the most interesting episodes of the Great World War."
He writes:
" THE formation of a Battalion of Jews for service in the British Army is an event without precedent in our annals, and the part played by such a unique unit is assured of a niche in history, owing to the fact that it fought in Palestine, not only for the British cause, but also for the Restoration of the Jewish people to the Promised Land. In writing the following narrative, my object has been to give a faithful account of the doings of this Jewish Battalion while it was under my command."
CONTENTS
I. The Balfour Declaration
II. The Sanballats
III. The Formation of the Jewish Regiment
IV. Training at Plymouth
V. The Kosher Problem
VI. We Set Out for Palestine
VII. Back in the Land of Bondage
VIII. The Feast of the Passover
IX. We Set Out for the Front
X. The Nablus Front
XI. We March TO THE Jordan Valley
XII. Our Position in the Mellahah
XIII. Life in the Mellahah
XIV. We Win Our First Honours
XV. Capture of the Umm esh Shert Ford
XVI. The Lost Transport Wagons
XVII. We Go Up to Ramoth Gilead
XVIII. The Crown of Victory
XIX. The Strategical Value of Palestine
XX. Hospital Scandal at Jerusalem
XXI. Life at Ludd
XXII. At Rafa
XXIII. Return of the Anzacs
XXIV. A Red-Letter Day
XXV. Forbidden to Enter the Holy City
XXVI. The Great Boxing Competition
XXVII. An Exciting Race
XXVIII. Damascus
XXIX. Among the Philistines
XXX. The Fall of Goliath
XXXI. Protests
XXXII. A Trip to the Sea of Galilee
XXXIII. Strange Methods of the E. E. F.
XXXIV. Staff
XXXV. The First Judeans
XXXVI. The Jerusalem Pogrom
XXXVII. The Dawn
This book originally published in 1922 has been reformatted for the Kindle and may contain an occasional imperfection from the original publication or from the reformatting.
Although largely forgotten by history, in the First World War, Patterson was the commander of the Jewish Legion, "the first Jewish fighting force in nearly two millennia. It was in this role that he was called the godfather of the Israeli army."
"WITH THE JUDEANS IN THE PALESTINE CAMPAIGN", by Lieutenant-Colonel J. H. Patterson (MacMillan), is the story of the Jewish Battalion of the British army, written by its commander. The Battalion, formed in August, 1917, as the result of a decision of the British cabinet, saw active service in the Holy Land, beset continually by the unfriendliness of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force.
Colonel Patterson indicates throughout his book an understanding of, and sympathy with, his Jewish soldiers. An interesting sentence from the introduction: ". . .It would not surprise me if the historian of the future seized upon this dramatic appearance of the Jewish warrior, fighting for the redemption of Israel under the banner of England, as one of the most interesting episodes of the Great World War."
He writes:
" THE formation of a Battalion of Jews for service in the British Army is an event without precedent in our annals, and the part played by such a unique unit is assured of a niche in history, owing to the fact that it fought in Palestine, not only for the British cause, but also for the Restoration of the Jewish people to the Promised Land. In writing the following narrative, my object has been to give a faithful account of the doings of this Jewish Battalion while it was under my command."
CONTENTS
I. The Balfour Declaration
II. The Sanballats
III. The Formation of the Jewish Regiment
IV. Training at Plymouth
V. The Kosher Problem
VI. We Set Out for Palestine
VII. Back in the Land of Bondage
VIII. The Feast of the Passover
IX. We Set Out for the Front
X. The Nablus Front
XI. We March TO THE Jordan Valley
XII. Our Position in the Mellahah
XIII. Life in the Mellahah
XIV. We Win Our First Honours
XV. Capture of the Umm esh Shert Ford
XVI. The Lost Transport Wagons
XVII. We Go Up to Ramoth Gilead
XVIII. The Crown of Victory
XIX. The Strategical Value of Palestine
XX. Hospital Scandal at Jerusalem
XXI. Life at Ludd
XXII. At Rafa
XXIII. Return of the Anzacs
XXIV. A Red-Letter Day
XXV. Forbidden to Enter the Holy City
XXVI. The Great Boxing Competition
XXVII. An Exciting Race
XXVIII. Damascus
XXIX. Among the Philistines
XXX. The Fall of Goliath
XXXI. Protests
XXXII. A Trip to the Sea of Galilee
XXXIII. Strange Methods of the E. E. F.
XXXIV. Staff
XXXV. The First Judeans
XXXVI. The Jerusalem Pogrom
XXXVII. The Dawn
This book originally published in 1922 has been reformatted for the Kindle and may contain an occasional imperfection from the original publication or from the reformatting.
193 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 30, 2004
7 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
John Henry Patterson
51 books23 followersLieutenant-Colonel John Henry Patterson, DSO, known as J.H. Patterson, was an Anglo-Irish soldier, hunter, author and Zionist, best known for his book The Man-Eaters of Tsavo (1907), which details his experiences while building a railway bridge over the Tsavo river in Kenya in 1898-99.
Although he was himself a Protestant, he became a major figure in Zionism as the commander of both the Zion Mule Corps and of the 38th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers (aka Jewish Legion of the British Army) in World War One. He ultimately achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel, and retired from the British Army in 1920. Patterson was a strong supporter of the establishment of a separate Jewish state in the Middle East, which was realized with the statehood of Israel on May 14, 1948, less than a year after his death.
Patterson died at the age of eighty. He was living in California at the time.
Although he was himself a Protestant, he became a major figure in Zionism as the commander of both the Zion Mule Corps and of the 38th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers (aka Jewish Legion of the British Army) in World War One. He ultimately achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel, and retired from the British Army in 1920. Patterson was a strong supporter of the establishment of a separate Jewish state in the Middle East, which was realized with the statehood of Israel on May 14, 1948, less than a year after his death.
Patterson died at the age of eighty. He was living in California at the time.
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September 4, 2025
Picture a band of Jewish volunteers, ordinary folk from bustling streets and distant shores, banding together under a bold British officer to battle Ottoman forces in the Holy Land during World War I, their journey a thrilling mix of grit, glory, and groundbreaking history that sparks the flame of a new era for their people, promising adventures in exotic terrains and the birth of a dream worth every drop of sweat.
John Henry Patterson, the lion-vanquishing Irishman of Tsavo fame, trades African jungles for Palestine’s battlegrounds, his memoir a candid chronicle that pulses with the fervor of a man captivated by his soldiers’ cause meeting the biblical weight of Exodus.
Patterson uplifts by tales of resilience, hearts swelling with communal triumph as soldiers reclaim ancestral pride through valour, learning that collective resolve carves paths through adversity. The story embodies Jewish revival, rising from diaspora ashes to forge homeland steel amid imperial gears. Patterson conveys unity's power, where diverse recruits blend into unbreakable force, echoing Kipling's yarns in soldierly bonds yet infused with biblical echoes, much like Lawrence's desert odysseys in Seven Pillars of Wisdom for their sandy strategies and personal quests. His anecdotal style, peppered with vivid details like Passover feasts under stars, draws one into the fray, each page turning like a patrol's tense advance.
Early on, the Balfour Declaration ignites hope, as His Majesty's Government views with favour the establishment in Palestine of a National Home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.
Opposition surges from surprising quarters, with some denouncing the regiment's formation and Zionist dreams, yet they press forward, training rigorously at Plymouth to forge men into superior fighters, impressing upon them that strict discipline, and hard training, was entirely in their own interests, so that when the day of battle came they would be fitter men and better fighters than their enemies, and with these two points in their favour the chances were that instead of getting killed, they would kill their opponents and emerge from the battle triumphant.
Kosher provisions spark debates, resolved firmly to honour traditions, as Patterson replies that if this was to be the attitude taken up by the War Office, it would be impossible to make the Battalion a success, for the only way to make good Jewish soldiers of the men was by first of all treating them as good Jews; if they were not to be treated as Jews, then he should request to be relieved of his command.
They sail to Palestine, parading proudly through cities, the Jewish flag and Union Jack carried amid cheering crowds. In Egypt, Passover feasts blend military duty with sacred rites, before advancing to the Nablus front, building redoubts and enduring endless labours, as men fix barbed wire entanglements, build stonework fortifications, gun emplacements, make railways down the hills, or bury animals which had died or been killed in somebody else's camp after night vigils.
Marching to the Jordan Valley plunges them into feverish heat, a sudden order shifting the soldiers to sweltering desolation 1,300 feet below sea level. Capturing Umm esh Shert Ford marks a triumph, securing vital crossings and outflanking foes. Turkish prisoners crawl exhausted through wilderness, their plight underscoring war's toll.
Hospital scandals in Jerusalem reveal bureaucratic hurdles, yet the brigade perseveres at Ludd, performing garrison duties amid recoveries. At Rafa, dull sands host recuperation and training American recruits, their prowess shining despite challenges. Anzacs' return sparks horse-racing and relic hunts, boosting spirits with tales of past victories. Decorations honour gallantry, presented with praise for contributions.
Passover at Rafa is celebrated joyfully, compensating for Jerusalem's barriers. Anti-Semitic tensions peak when a general abuses soldiers, striking one with a whip amid insults, yet apologies follow, though indignities persist. Protests erupt through letters, highlighting denied rights and slandered efforts, as Palestine has become the theatre of an undisguised anti-Semitic policy, with elementary equality of rights denied the Jewish inhabitants.
A serene trip to the Sea of Galilee unveils scenic wonders and economic visions, meeting heroes like Trumpeldor. Staff methods puzzle with demobilizations, yet the battalion earns its Judæan title, Menorah badges gleaming. Pogroms ravage Jerusalem in 1920, blamed on policies allowing violence. Dawn breaks at San Remo, endorsing the National Home with Britain as Mandatory Power, fulfilling prophecies through harmony and development.
Essential reading, especially now!
John Henry Patterson, the lion-vanquishing Irishman of Tsavo fame, trades African jungles for Palestine’s battlegrounds, his memoir a candid chronicle that pulses with the fervor of a man captivated by his soldiers’ cause meeting the biblical weight of Exodus.
Patterson uplifts by tales of resilience, hearts swelling with communal triumph as soldiers reclaim ancestral pride through valour, learning that collective resolve carves paths through adversity. The story embodies Jewish revival, rising from diaspora ashes to forge homeland steel amid imperial gears. Patterson conveys unity's power, where diverse recruits blend into unbreakable force, echoing Kipling's yarns in soldierly bonds yet infused with biblical echoes, much like Lawrence's desert odysseys in Seven Pillars of Wisdom for their sandy strategies and personal quests. His anecdotal style, peppered with vivid details like Passover feasts under stars, draws one into the fray, each page turning like a patrol's tense advance.
Early on, the Balfour Declaration ignites hope, as His Majesty's Government views with favour the establishment in Palestine of a National Home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.
Opposition surges from surprising quarters, with some denouncing the regiment's formation and Zionist dreams, yet they press forward, training rigorously at Plymouth to forge men into superior fighters, impressing upon them that strict discipline, and hard training, was entirely in their own interests, so that when the day of battle came they would be fitter men and better fighters than their enemies, and with these two points in their favour the chances were that instead of getting killed, they would kill their opponents and emerge from the battle triumphant.
Kosher provisions spark debates, resolved firmly to honour traditions, as Patterson replies that if this was to be the attitude taken up by the War Office, it would be impossible to make the Battalion a success, for the only way to make good Jewish soldiers of the men was by first of all treating them as good Jews; if they were not to be treated as Jews, then he should request to be relieved of his command.
They sail to Palestine, parading proudly through cities, the Jewish flag and Union Jack carried amid cheering crowds. In Egypt, Passover feasts blend military duty with sacred rites, before advancing to the Nablus front, building redoubts and enduring endless labours, as men fix barbed wire entanglements, build stonework fortifications, gun emplacements, make railways down the hills, or bury animals which had died or been killed in somebody else's camp after night vigils.
Marching to the Jordan Valley plunges them into feverish heat, a sudden order shifting the soldiers to sweltering desolation 1,300 feet below sea level. Capturing Umm esh Shert Ford marks a triumph, securing vital crossings and outflanking foes. Turkish prisoners crawl exhausted through wilderness, their plight underscoring war's toll.
Hospital scandals in Jerusalem reveal bureaucratic hurdles, yet the brigade perseveres at Ludd, performing garrison duties amid recoveries. At Rafa, dull sands host recuperation and training American recruits, their prowess shining despite challenges. Anzacs' return sparks horse-racing and relic hunts, boosting spirits with tales of past victories. Decorations honour gallantry, presented with praise for contributions.
Passover at Rafa is celebrated joyfully, compensating for Jerusalem's barriers. Anti-Semitic tensions peak when a general abuses soldiers, striking one with a whip amid insults, yet apologies follow, though indignities persist. Protests erupt through letters, highlighting denied rights and slandered efforts, as Palestine has become the theatre of an undisguised anti-Semitic policy, with elementary equality of rights denied the Jewish inhabitants.
A serene trip to the Sea of Galilee unveils scenic wonders and economic visions, meeting heroes like Trumpeldor. Staff methods puzzle with demobilizations, yet the battalion earns its Judæan title, Menorah badges gleaming. Pogroms ravage Jerusalem in 1920, blamed on policies allowing violence. Dawn breaks at San Remo, endorsing the National Home with Britain as Mandatory Power, fulfilling prophecies through harmony and development.
Essential reading, especially now!
May 6, 2019
I did an in-depth study of Patterson as part of a thesis. This exposed me to many of his works and I enjoyed exploring the man.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews